When originally conceived, the French SPAD VII and German Albatros D II represented steps away from an emphasis on manoeuvre in aerial combat in favour of speed and durability. At the end of 1916, however, Albatros tried to have the best of both worlds.

When originally conceived, the French SPAD VII and German Albatros D II represented steps away from an emphasis on manoeuvre in aerial combat in favour of speed and durability. At the end of 1916, however, Albatros tried to have the best of both worlds. The result combined the better downward view and manoeuvrability of the Nieuport with the power and twin machine guns of the Albatros D II. At the same time, the French worked to improve the SPAD VII with more power and a more reliable cooling system before moving on to the twin-gunned SPAD XIII. While all that was going on, the Albatros D III became a mainstay of the German and Austro-Hungarian air services.

Review
“Authoritatively researched, documented, and presented... Students of Albatrosen or SPADs in particular, and WWI air combat in general should be thrilled by this book.” - Frederick Boucher, AeroScale

“As with all Duel volumes, this one features helpful maps, rare photos and superb artwork. Five Stars.” -Barrett Tillman, “The Aerodrome”

.“..this 80-page work contains all that most readers would ever want to know about comparing these two fabled fighters.” -Peter Kilduff, “Between the Bookends”

Jon Guttman is senior editor, research director, and contributing writer for the Weider History Group, which publishes “Aviation History,” Specializing in World War I aviation, he has written eleven titles in the past including the popular “Balloon Busting Aces of World War I” in Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces series. The author lives in Leesburg, VA.